Cristiano Ronaldo buys 25% share in Saudi-owned second-tier Spanish club UD Almeira

This is Ronaldo’s first major stake in any Spanish club!

Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo has made headlines after investing in Spanish second division outfit UD Almeira. The Real Madrid legend, who once shocked the Spanish footballing fraternity with his awe-inspiring goals and record-breaking achievements, is set to make a major impact in the country’s football landscape.

Saudi-based SMC Group owns the majority shareholdings in the Andalusia-based outfit. Ronaldo announced the acquisition through CR7 Sports Investments.

The 41-year-old striker has been actively investing in brands including the likes of Perplexity AI, Bioniq and Whoop from diverse backgrounds such as hotels, fashion and fitness. He is also a part-owner of his current club Al-Nassr.

After buying around a quarter of the shares, Cristiano Ronaldo said, “It has been a longtime ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch. UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear growth potential. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the club’s next phase of growth.”

Almeira are pushing harder for promotion to LaLiga

Founded in 1989, the Andalusia outfit currently compete in the Spanish second division, Segunda Division, after being relegated in 2024. They finished sixth last season and are currently positioned third in the Segunda division, and are pushing hard to gain promotion to LaLiga.

The club is led by Rubi, a veteran Spanish gaffer who has previously been at the managerial helm of clubs like Real Betis, Espanyol and Real Valladolid. They are just a win away from clinching the top spot in Segunda divsion and are coming after winning four out of their last five games.

Footballers turning investors is now a growing trend

It is not the first time that footballing legends have chosen to make an impact on the game from outside the pitch. English legend David Beckham owns MLS outfit Inter Miami, featuring icons like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, whereas Messi’s former teammate Gerard Piqué owns FC Andorra.

The list is endless, from Ngolo Kante owning in Belgian outfit Royal Excelisor Virton, Thibaut Courtois investing in French second division outfit Le Mans FC and Zlatan Ibrahimovic owning a significant share in Swedish top-flight club named Hammarby IF.

This is Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-ever major stake in a Spanish club since his playing days at Real Madrid. Should Almeira go on to secure promotion to LaLiga, it could add a new dimension of rivalry and competitiveness in the Spanish footballing fraternity.

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